Life is Poker, not Chess
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In game theory, games can be classified as being of either "perfect information" or "imperfect information". In games of perfect information, all the game data is available to all players at all times. Examples of this include Chess, Checkers and Go, where the pieces on the game board are visible to both players throughout the game and the exact outcome of every move can be determined given enough time and computational resources. Contrary to these are games of imperfect information which rely (often partially) on "hidden data" or "luck" such as most card games.
Poker is a game of imperfect information that I find very resemblant to our everyday's struggle with life. In poker, you can play with perfect strategy only to be beaten by pure luck. Although disappointing, this doesn't make the game any less interesting. Actually, this is EXACTLY what makes a game of such simple rules so thrilling and enjoyable.
Life is similar to poker in a sense that sometimes you still lose even if you play a perfect set of moves. For example, you might have worked twice as hard as any other student in high school only to find that some others have secured jobs that are far better than yours. In this case, the element of "luck" has contributed to the game result much more than your efforts.
Professional poker players understand that although you can't beat the odds at every single game, you can increase your chances of winning by perfect play and accumulate a statistical advantage over a number of rounds. It is important to understand that just because you lost a particular game doesn't mean you were wrong to play. So it is in life, one has to play as good as they can and hope that luck will roll in their favour. It is important not to look back with sorrow at any past efforts that were justified in their time but didn't yield fruit in the present. Again, just because we lost doesn't mean we were wrong to play.
Perhaps most importantly, one has to play with a solid belief that the odds are going to be in their favour one day. Only this way can one be ready to win the game when that day comes.
Fortune is when readiness meets opportunity.
9 Response(s) to "Life is Poker, not Chess"
Ehab said:
Well, I guess the difference then is that in real life, you don't really lose because you learn a bit of the rules of life. While in poker, where all the rules are known, you learn nothing (assuming you know the different tactics and applications of these rules).
Haitham said:
Yes indeed life is poker, and this is what made Nash go schizophrenic ;)
Ghaith said:
Ehab
True, in real life experiences the unknown factors or the element of 'luck' is not really undisclosed knowledge like a set of cards in your opponents' hands. It is merely a collection of factors that haven't been taken into account due to any of various reasons (for example; poor understanding of the situation, ignorance or really not having access to information). Going through a life experience inarguably makes you more aware of these 'hidden cards' so that you can uncover them in future plays.
Haitham
Won't judge the dude, he accomplished more than any of us could have despite his insanity :)
Haitham said:
I am not judging him, he is one of the best mathematician that ever lived, but am saying that he became schizophrenic after noticing that life is a poker! He is not insane btw ;)
Ghaith said:
lol, does that mean that am going to start "seeing things" now that I came to this realization myself?
I don't know how actual of a depiction of his life Beautiful Mind is, but if memory serves well this is pretty much what I call insane =)
Douja said:
Walla this is brillant, a perfect metaphor.
You are dealt a hand of cards and when you finally begin to grow and learn over time you understand the cards you are dealt and how to use them to your advantage or disadvantage, you can either fold or play with the cards, but in the end you have the cards in your hand though you have a destined way to win or lose you can always change that.
GREAT POSTTTTTTTTTTTT
Ghaith said:
Game theory is a brilliant background for learning how to make choices. The way I see it, everything that offers a choice is a game.
jaraad said:
"So it is in life, one has to play as good as they can and hope that luck will roll in their favour." This can't be more true!
As you mentioned losing a game doesn't mean we played wrong.
Nice post!
Ghaith said:
Thanks Jaraad!
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